diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/gwtexpui/clippy/client/CopyableLabel.java b/src/main/java/com/google/gwtexpui/clippy/client/CopyableLabel.java
index 60a988b..e2e91ed 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/gwtexpui/clippy/client/CopyableLabel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/gwtexpui/clippy/client/CopyableLabel.java
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
 
   private final FlowPanel content;
   private String text;
+  private int visibleLen;
   private Label textLabel;
   private TextBox textBox;
   private Element swf;
@@ -96,6 +97,8 @@
     initWidget(content);
 
     text = str;
+    visibleLen = text.length();
+
     if (showLabel) {
       textLabel = new InlineLabel(getText());
       textLabel.setStyleName(ClippyResources.I.css().label());
@@ -110,6 +113,19 @@
     embedMovie();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Change the text which is displayed in the clickable label.
+   *
+   * @param text the new preview text, should be shorter than the original text
+   *        which would be copied to the clipboard.
+   */
+  public void setPreviewText(final String text) {
+    if (textLabel != null) {
+      textLabel.setText(text);
+      visibleLen = text.length();
+    }
+  }
+
   private void embedMovie() {
     if (flashEnabled && UserAgent.hasFlash) {
       final String flashVars = "text=" + URL.encodeComponent(getText());
@@ -164,7 +180,7 @@
     if (textBox == null) {
       textBox = new TextBox();
       textBox.setText(getText());
-      textBox.setVisibleLength(getText().length());
+      textBox.setVisibleLength(visibleLen);
       textBox.addKeyPressHandler(new KeyPressHandler() {
         @Override
         public void onKeyPress(final KeyPressEvent event) {